We use cookies on this website to improve your shopping experience. We use cookies to remember log-in details and provide secure log-in, collect statistics to optimize site functionality, and deliver content tailored to your interests. Click accept to give your consent to accept cookies and go directly to the site or click on more information to see detailed descriptions of the types of cookies we store.
Click here to learn about cookie settings.

SKINS Science

The research we carry out in the garment development stages allows us to keep pushing the boundaries of technology and compression – leading to the development of dynamic gradient compression, which features in our A400 clothing, for example.

Research - proving instead of guessing

Published Research on SKINS

The amount of research published on the functional parameters of SKINS is unrivalled within the sports compression wear industry. So far, ten studies carried out using SKINS have been published in independently peer reviewed medical journals.

Published research of this kind has contributed to SKINS being recommended and endorsed by the Australian Physiotherapy Association and qualifying for registration as a therapeutic device by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Research on SKINS has been conducted by:

Dr Nick Gill, Strength and Conditioning Coach - Waikato Chiefs

Dr Peter Clothier, Sports and Exercise Science Lecturer and Researcher - School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Australia

Mr Dayne Walker, Researcher - School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Australia

Journal Publications

During steady state running at a fixed intensity of 60% vVO2max(12.1 ± 1.3 km/h), running economy was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in correctly fitted compression tights when compared with running shorts. When wearing correctly fitted compression compared to running shorts, the runners demonstrated that they used less energy when running at a sub maximal speed. They were more economical and efficient. It is widely accepted that runners who are more economical during sub maximal speeds have the ability to push harder or run longer during their training and/or events.

Preliminary development of a wearable device for dynamic pressure measurement in garments

Existing garment pressure measurement devices are predominantly limited to static pressure measurements and not well suited to monitoring dynamic pressure during sports activities. This study illustrates the construction of a wearable dynamic pressure monitoring device (WDPMD) that measures changes in pressure between a subject and garment during activity. Results of accuracy and precision from the study reveal the WDPMD compares favourably to existing static compression devices and was found to be suitable for monitoring changes in pressure dynamically between a subject and garment. The authors conclude the WDPMD had advantages in terms of functional testing, portability, memory, communication and power capacity.

This study examined the effectiveness of lower limb compression as a recovery strategy following exercise-induced muscle damage. Seventeen volunteers were involved in an exercise protocol designed to induce muscle damage. This study indicated that individuals who wore Skins lower limb compression garments for 12 hours following exercise inducing muscle damage, experienced up to 20% less functional muscle decrement and lower perceptions of muscle soreness in comparison with individuals who had a passive recovery.

Effects of wearing compression garments on physiological and performance measures in a simulated game-specific circuit for netball

Higgins, T., Naughton, G.A., Burgess, D. (2009).

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 12, 223—226.

This study investigated the effectiveness of SKINS gradient compression garments in improving physiological variables in a netball-specific circuit. Data recorded from a Global Positioning System (GPS) of nine subjects revealed greater distances were travelled at a faster velocity (3.5ms-1) when wearing SKINS gradient compression garments compared with wearing usual netball attire and a placebo garment. This suggests during a netball game, players may be able to cover more distance during short sprints by wearing SKINS gradient compression garments than without them.

Effectiveness of post-match recovery strategies in rugby players

This study examined the effectiveness of contrast water therapy, SKINS gradient compression garments, low intensity active exercise, and passive recovery on the rate and magnitude of muscle damage recovery, as measured by the enzyme Creatine Kinase. Measurements of 23 elite rugby union players took place before, immediately after, 36 hours after, and 84 hours after competitive rugby matches. The rugby match resulted induced significant increases in player creatine kinase levels. The results also revealed the magnitude of recovery in the passive recovery intervention was significantly worse than in the low intensity active exercise, contrast water therapy, and SKINS gradient compression garment interventions at the 36 and 84 hour time points.The authors concluded that low impact exercise immediately post-competition, wearing gradient compression garments, or carrying out contrast water therapy promotes better physiological recovery than passive methods in young male athletes.

Comparison of three types of full-body compression garments on throwing and repeat-sprint performance in cricket players

Duffield, R., and Portus, M. (2007).

British Journal of Sports Medicine, 41, 409–414.

This study compared the effects of three types of full-body compression garments, including SKINS, on repeat-sprint and throwing performance in cricket players. Ten male cricket players performed randomised exercise sessions with each of the three garments and a control garment. The results revealed significant differences in mean skin temperature, lower 24 hour post exercise creatine kinase values and lower 24 hour post exercise ratings of muscle soreness when wearing compression garments. In conclusion, the authors indicate the potential benefits in utilising gradient compression garments as a thermal insulator in cool conditions, and as a recovery intervention tool after high-intensity exercise to reduce post exercise trauma.

This study did prospective measures on 50 passengers on flights of greater than 5 hours with measurements conducted on both the outgoing and return flights for each passenger – one wearing SKINS and one not wearing SKINS. Results showed significant differences in ankle circumference and symptoms of Economy Class Syndrome. More specifically, results found that participants wearing gradient compression garments (SKINS) during air travel experienced

Published in Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (2010) 24(7), 1901-1910.

This study investigated the effects of SKINS whole-body compression garments (WBCG) during a 45 minute high-intensity intermittent running protocol, designed to simulate the physical loading of field based team-sports. Results showed wearing SKINS WBCG increased total distance covered during the protocol suggesting that wearing the garments may increase physical performance during field based team-sports. This may be attributed to the increase in muscle oxygenation.

Percentage Increases

8.5% increase in total distance covered whilst wearing SKINS in comparison to a control.

4.3% increase in oxygenation percentage in the muscle whilst wearing SKINS in comparison to a control.

Efficacy of lower limb compression and combined treatment of manual massage and lower limb compression on symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage in women

This study expands on previous research and investigated the effectiveness of combining a sports massage immediately after exercise with wearing Skins long tights for 12 hours as a recovery strategy following jumping activity. It was observed that the combined treatment was beneficial in terms of reducing perceived soreness and moderating decrements in functional strength. The addition of the sports massage was not more beneficial than wearing Skins alone in moderating muscle strength loss, but was beneficial in further limiting increases in perceived soreness. It was concluded that if available, the combination of sports massage and Skins compressive clothing after exercise may be positive in terms of perceived soreness, but in terms of functional muscle recovery, it is no more beneficial than wearing Skins compressive clothing alone.

Strength loss was 24% less in the group wearing Skins in comparison with a passive recovery.

Compression garments have become an essential part of an athlete’s recovery strategy so that they feel better and perform stronger on any subsequent training session or competition.

In this study, researchers tested just that – the ability of 14 well trained athletes to perform a 40-km cycling time trial (TT), 24 hours after completing an initial 40-km TT. The protocol was completed twice, once with the athletes wearing SKINS long tights in the recovery period between the two time trials, and once wearing a Nike non-compression base layer.

In a controlled environment, the researchers demonstrated that second 40-km TT performance was improved (faster) when using SKINS graduated compression compared to the Nike non-compression base layer placebo. This improvement resulted in a substantially higher average power output recorded (3%).

The authors concluded that the wearing of graduated compression garments during recovery is likely to be worthwhile.